DemDaily: Status of the Senate

November 15, 2017

While House Republicans are exiting in historic numbers, only two of their senior colleagues in the Senate have announced retirements, although both - at least in name - in rebuke of the Trump Administration.

Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), who may be gearing for a Presidential run, became the first Senator up in 2018 to announce his retirement, followed by Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) who made his announcement from the Senate floor, denouncing the "complicity" of his own party in an "alarming and dangerous state of affairs" under Trump.

While there are rumors of more, the pressure is on for Republican Senators to stay put in the name of preserving their slim 52-48 majority.

The Republican Party holds a 52 to 48 seat majority over the Democrats (including two independents) in the US Senate. Democrats will need to pick up a net gain of three seats to take the majority in 2018.

Trump and Corker in happier times

The last hope for chipping away at the GOP majority before the regular election November 6, 2018, are Special Elections -- for seats vacated mid-term, which need to be filled by calling a "special" election, usually within three months of the vacancy.

At present only the turbulent Alabama Senate Special to fill Attorney General Jeff Sessions' former seat is on the docket.  The December 12th election is in the hands of Republicans at present, but the sensational sexual allegations surrounding ultra-right Republican nominee Roy Moore may shift the dynamics in the days to come.

Other retirement possibilities include Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Thad Cochran for health reasons, and Senator Bob Mendenez (D-NJ), depending on the outcome of his current trial.

 

A total of 33 of the 100 US Senate seats will be up for election November 6, 2018. The Democratic Party will be defending 25 seats (including two Independents), while the Republicans have only eight to protect.

Advantage Republican
Even with the mid-term advantage of the party outside the White House, the challenge of retaining, and expanding on 25 seats is daunting for Democrats and, in particular, those running in states like Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia, where Trump won in 2016 by double digits.

Still, most incumbent Dems are favored to be re-elected and, with the current White House, everything is possible.

 US Senate Seats Up in 2018
State
Senator and Party
Rating
Arizona
Jeff Flake (R) (RETIRING)
Toss-Up
California
Diane Feinstein (D)
Safe D
Connecticut
Chris Murphy (D)
Safe D
Delaware
Tom Carper (D)
Safe D
Florida
Bill Nelson (D)
Lean D
Hawaii
Mazine Hirona (D)
Safe D
Indiana
Joe Donnelly (D)
Toss-Up
Maine
Angus King (I)
Likely D (I)
Maryland
Ben Cardin (D)
Safe D
Massachusetts
Elizabeth Warren (D)
Safe D
Michigan Debbie Stabenow (D)
Likely D
Minnesota
Amy Klobuchar (D)
Safe D
Mississippi
Roger Wicker (R)
Safe R
Missouri
Claire McCaskill (D)
Toss-Up
Montana
Jon Tester (D)
Toss-Up
Nebraska*
Deb Fischer (R)
Safe R
Nevada
Dean Heller (R)
Toss-Up
New Jersey
Bob Menendez (D)
Likely D
New Mexico
Martin Heinrich (D)
Safe D
New York
Kirstin Gillibrand (D)
Safe D
North Dakota
Heidi Heitkamp (D)
Lean D
Ohio Sherrod Brown (D)
Lean D
Pennsylvania
Bob Casey, Jr (D)
Likely D
Rhode Island
Sheldon Whitehouse (D)
Safe D
Tennessee
Bob Corker (R) RETIRING
Likely R
Texas
Ted Cruz (R)
Likely R
Utah
Orrin Hatch (R)
Safe R
Vermont
Bernie Sanders (I)
Safe D
Virginia Tim Kaine (D) Likely D
Washington
Maria Cantwell (D)
Safe D
West Virginia
Joe Manchin (D)
Lean D
Wisconsin
Tammy Baldwin (D)
Lean D
Wyoming
John Barrasso (R)
Safe R
Ratings based on review of The Cook Political ReportSabato's Crystal BallInside Elections, and DemList' final call.

 

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Kimberly Scott
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Sources: Ballotpedia. Polivette, Wiki, CNN, WashingtonPost, Examiner, CouncilforALivableWorld

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